The Ultimate Guide to Large Dog Crates

Welcome to our Ultimate Guide to Dog Crates! Choosing the best dog crate for your loved pet can be a painstaking process if you are not equipped with the right information. We at BestDogCrates.org aim to make the buying process as easy as possible for dog lovers by providing you with buying advice, dog crate information, and unbiased product reviews on dog crates of all kinds. We will cover everything from inescapable escape proof dog crates to beautiful and elegant furniture dog crates.

Dog crates & kennels have become very popular among dog owners in the last decades and there is a huge variety of crates to choose from on the market today. There are plenty of choices regardless of your budget, the size of your dog or your personal preference and making the right choice for you and your pet can be a daunting task.

Whether you want a sturdy no nonsense crate, a fashionable designer crate or even a pink dog crate – There is a whole range of dog crates for sale! BestDogCrates.org will make these decisions easier for you.

Introduction to Our Dog Crate Reviews

Increasingly popular over the last decade, dog crates have become an attractive addition to a lot of dog owner’s homes. They can be used for anything from a travel cage to a house training aid. A crate can be a critical tool while toilet training puppies as it can train your puppy to learn to delay urinating until they are in a suitable potty area. You can also train your puppy to go to a certain place at certain times, for example, at bedtime.

With proper training, you can teach your dog to associate their crate as a place of comfort and security and a place to receive the most treats. A good dog crate can also be used as a humane and non-cruel method of punishing a dog. Putting a naughty pup in their crate for a few minutes can settle them down and teach them the error of their ways.

This dog crate guide will show you the top rated dog crates available on the internet today and give you an honest, unbiased opinion on these products. We source our information from hands-on experience, user reviews online and other data that is available. With this data, we will compare it with other crates in the same niche market and the same price bracket to help you come to a conclusion if it is right for you and your needs. Our comparison tables will allow you to quickly digest lots of information within a short space of time without individually checking details of individual crates yourselves.

Crate Sizes – What Size Crate Is Suitable for your Breed of Dog?

You have probably been wondering ‘what size crate is good for my dog?”. There are some considerations and factors involved in choosing the correct crate size for your dog. This dog crate size guide will help you discover what size dimensions you will need for your pet.

One thing to bear in mind is that your dog’s size is more important than their weight. A great rule to follow is – The crate should be at least 6 inches longer than the length of their body, and the crate height should be 6 inches higher than their shoulder height. Follow these rules to ensure your dog is comfortable. If your dog is a mixed breed, you should assume your dog is a purebred of the larger breed in their ancestry to be safe.

It is common for people to choose a crate that is larger than required. There is nothing wrong with that; however, you do not want to go to big as the width of the bars increases which may allow your dog to get their head or a part of their body stuck in the gap. Many crates on the market have a divider panel which enables you to cut the size in half making it an idea puppy crate. These types of dog crate are often called “training crates” due to their size flexibility being an invaluable tool when housebreaking a puppy.

One of the most common mistakes people make when buying dog crates is getting one that is the incorrect size. The dog crate should be big enough for the dog to lie down, stand up and turn around in. This will aid you when housebreaking a puppy, as dogs tend not to want to soil their sleeping areas. If you buy a crate that’s too big for your dog, you run the risk of them using one end for a toilet area and the other end of a clean sleeping area.

The size table below should give you a good idea of what size crate your dog will need. If you are unsure, please ask your pet professional for advice.

Video Guide

Types of Dog Crate – What Is The Best For Your Dog?

The dog crate is one of the most expensive items you will purchase for your dog, and this is especially true of you have a large breed of dog! It can be difficult deciding what type of crate you want to get as there are so many options to suit a range of budgets. It depends on your needs and what you are planning on using the crate for. Each type of crate has its drawbacks and advantages, and we will look at them all. Before you dwell on ‘what type?’ You will need to find out what size crate you will need for your dog. You can severely damage your training program if you buy the wrong crate so choose wisely!

Wire Crates

The most common type of crate is the collapsible/folding wire dog crate, and indeed, this type is some of the strongest dog crates out there. Dog Crates made of stainless steel wire are the most durable making them also hefty to move around. They are very easy to setup, maintain and clean. They are popular because of their high versatility and their many advantages.

One such advantage is they provide excellent airflow and ventilation to your dog which on warm days can help keep your dog feeling comfortable and relaxed. Wire crates are very functional units and being made of metal are the most secure type especially if you have an active, strong pet. They are easy and quick to setup. They are not the most aesthetically pleasing compared to luxury or wooden furniture-style crates, but they are dependable and long-lasting.

Pros

Ideal for long haired dogs that feel the heat more and need better ventilation.

Often have a floor tray that is easy to remove and clean

With some brands of wire crate, a divider is provided to allow sectioning of the crate – ideal for a growing puppy!

Storing or carrying wire crates is made effortless with the ability to fold down

Cons

Not the most attractive to have in your house compared to other types

Larger crates can be difficult to move and heavy to lift

They can be noisier if your dog is particularly playful and active in their crate

Expert escape artist dogs can sometimes escape from wire crates

Midwest iCrate Pet Crates

We have assessed that the Midwest iCrate Pet Crates offer fantastic value for money and are a solid option for those looking for a wire crate for their dog. The iCrate is a highly popular choice of crate on Amazon. With over 11 thousand mostly positive reviews you will hardly go wrong with this crate. It comes in a variety of sizes to suit any dog from 18 inches to 48 inches, and they also are available with a single door or double door option.

The iCrate is very easy to setup and takes a few seconds; furthermore, it does not require any specialist tools to setup. Safety is paramount and features included rounded corners to prevent injury, secure bolt latches and a washable plastic bottom pan in case of toilet accidents. The iCrate is available in seven sizes (inches): 18, 22, 24, 30, 36, 42 and 48 and the single door varieties also come with the added option of the color blue or pink.

Wooden / Designer Crates – For the Home Decor Conscious

Wooden dog crates, also described as designer dog crates or furniture crates can double as not only crates to house your canine friend, but also an aesthetically pleasing attractive part of the room! Some wooden crates can double as tabletops or nightstands. There are many varieties of wooden crate on the market today, and it should not be too difficult to find something suitable for your pet that also matches your home decor. Due to the materials used, wooden crates are often more expensive than the more traditional wire or plastic crates. Crates made with expensive woods such as Mahogany can cost many hundreds of dollars.

Pros

These types of crate are quite durable, sturdy and strong

Some wooden crates are aimed at the furniture market that can double as side-tables and small tabletops

Comes in many types of wood

Less noisy than metal crates

Cons

Wood can be chewed

If the crate has a wooden floor, it can be damaged by urine

Plastic Crates

Plastic dog crates offer a great option for those travelers amongst you and those that take their dogs on camping trips. They are light and easy to pick up, and their lower prices allow you to use them as a house-training crate to control chewing behavior that could otherwise destroy furniture and more expensive crates. We recommend Plastic crates to people with puppies. Plastic crates often are sturdier than their metal counterparts but lack the ability to be able to fold down.

Plastic crates offer more privacy for your dog, but they lack in ventilation that a wire crate may provide. This might be a problem if you live in a warm climate and/or you have a long-haired dog. Plastic crates lack the divider that many wire crates come with however a good tip to reduce the amount of space is to place a box a the back of the crate reducing space. This can be ideal if you have a growing puppy. With a solid plastic bottom, these types of crates are very easy to clean if your dog has a toilet accident.

Pros

Some plastic crates have removable top halves that can be placed inside the bottom half for easy storage

Plastic crates come in a variety of colors

More challenging for dogs to escape from than other varieties

Ideal for airline travel – If your dog is used to their crate it will make flying easier for them

Perfect for dogs that love to sleep under tables or in cozy corners

Cons

Not aesthetically pleasing in the house compared to wooden or wire crates

If a dog has diarrhea, you will need to use the hose to clean it out

Some dogs enjoy a full 360-degree field of vision and might get claustrophobic inside a plastic crate.

Less ventilation than other varieties – Your dog might overheat in hot weather

Petmate Sky Kennel

With over 900 reviews on Amazon and sporting a four / 5 rating this Petmate plastic crate is the standard setting crate in the industry. This is a plastic crate, but it sports a rugged design due to its focus on airline travel. This crate has durable and sturdy doors and wire ventilation to give adequate air flow.

This crate comes in a range of sizes to suit different breeds of animal.

21 x 16 x 15

28 x 20.5 x 21.5

32 x 22.5 x 24

36 x 25 x 27

40 x 27 x 30

(Extra large) 90 – 125lbs

First and foremost this crate is designed for airline travel however it still makes an excellent home crate for your dog. Of course you will need to double check with the airline you intend to fly with to make sure this crate still passes the requirements/conditions.
Finally this crate comes with a nice doggy travel kit consisting of ID stickers, labels stating “live animal” water and food cups to keep your pet fed as well as an absorbent pad to take care of any spillages.

Soft Sided Crates

Readily available and transportable on the go, soft crates are lightweight, washable and often very stylish. They are suitable for use both outdoors and indoors. Soft-sided crates are often a firm favorite with dogs because of their comfortability. They are a firm favorite with owners because they are made of vinyl and mesh as opposed to metal and wood which reduces the risk of injury significantly – especially for an easily frightened or overly active dog.

There is an obvious risk of your dog destroying the soft material of these types of crates so that should be taken into consideration. Indeed, most of the negative customer reviews on Amazon typically begin with “my dog ripped the crate to bits!”. Soft-sided crates are ideal for dogs that are already crate trained and well behaved. You might buy a soft-sided crate because; you travel a lot with your dog and you need a portable crate to take with you. Your dog might appreciate a dark place to hide with no distractions, or you have a very timidly and laid back animal that is not prone to crate-destruction.

Pros

Easy to store away

Ideal for travel in the car, picnics, and camping

Perfect for small tame dogs

Very lightweight and easy to transport

Cons

Smart dogs may be able to unzip the door if they can figure it out

Some dogs might be able to gnaw their way out

Difficult to clean in the event of a toilet accident

Heavy Duty / Escape Proof Crates – For Those Problem Pooches

If you have a particularly skilled escape artist of a dog or one that is hard to control then, you probably will want a heavy duty dog crate. They are made from sturdy and durable metals such as aluminum or stainless steel and are often much heavier than their wired counterparts. Heavy duty dog crates are primarily built for dog security and peace of mind that your dog will be in their crate when you come home.

Indestructible, inescapable, heavy duty, strong & escape-proof are just a few of the adjectives used to describe these more robust dog crates however they all mean one thing. Your dog should not be able to escape easily. Heavy duty crates are not very asthetically pleasing compared to furntiure crates but they do the job well.

The quality of the materials used is a huge factor to look at when choosing a heavy-duty crate. They are primarily designed for security and toughness so that you will want top build quality. There are plenty of escape proof dog crates out there, but there are also a lot of sub-standard cheap ones as well. Heavy duty dog crates need not be heavy as some manufacturers are producing aluminum heavy duty crates that are robust as well as lightweight.

Pros

Can keep the most escape-prone dogs safe and secure

Some heavy duty crates are approved for air travel. This will make flying with your pup easier

Hardy design ensures a long-lasting crate that will be with you for many years to come

Cons

Not aesthetically pleasing and might clash with your home decor

Quite expensive compared to other types of crate but definitely worth if you value security and peace of mind

Heavy to move around

Conclusion

We hope this guide has helped you in your quest to find the perfect dog crate! We have given you a detailed overview of the different types of dog crates available to buy in 2016 and have listed their advantages and disadvantages so you can figure out what will work for you. It is important to consider every type of crate and research into their benefits, so you do not run the risk of overlooking something. Finally before making the final decision and clicking the purchase button, take note of recent customer reviews. Customer reviews give you an entirely unbiased source of comments from real people who have also purchased the product.

We welcome suggestions and tips in the comments section below and as always – we always welcome doggy photos and stories.

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